Method of treating grasses.



W. F. WYMAN. METHOD OF TREATING GRASSBS.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 31, 1908.

934,7Q, Patented Sept. 21, 1909.

L [A fi t tmvew I fe e ,ticnlarly coarse,

llZIEl) STATES PATENT @FlFliQE.

WILLIAM IE. WYMAN, OF OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 JOSEEH A.

CRUM, OF OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN.

METHOD OF TREATING GRASSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 21, race.

Application filed December 31, 1908. Serial No. 470,229.

to'the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims of this specification, its object being the utilization of various grasses, especially coarse, tough marsh grasses, as a cheap elastic non-resinous and preferably deodorized packing and upholstery material having an approximately fireproof glaze and designed as an economical substitute for the now expensive excelsior to which it is preferable because of its non-inflammability under ordinary conditions or slow burning characteristic: if ignited; as well as its lack of susceptibility to changes of atmospheric conditions and to the factthat it will not leave its imprint on varnished goods packed therewit 1. 4

The drawing is a diagram of an'apparatus for carrying out my method of treating grasses.

Referring by letter to the drawing, A in dicates a receptacle into which grass partough marsh grass is preferably coated with salt or other suitable non-inflammable substance in any suitable manner, and also preferably subjected to fumes of sulfur and formaldehyde by which it is deodorized and sterilized. The material may be also treated with a coloring matter if desired, which coloring matter may be incorporated with-the salt. The material is then spread between an endless travelingfeed-apron B and a feed-roll-C by which itis forced between a and longitudinally corrugated rolls 1), D in mesh with one another to eifect a crimping operation. The crimping-rolls extract some moisture present in thematerial, and this moisture Incorporates with the salt-coating to impart a dry glutinous fire-resistingglaze to sald material, this glaze'also serving to maintain the crimp. A rotatory beater E or other suitable means is preferably employed in an inclosed space to agitate the material coming from the crimping-rolls,

and dust and chafi" loosened by the agitation'finds escape through a screened flue Z2 into an air-exhaust drum F. Within the space aforesaid, an endless traveling screenconveyer G is utilized to carry the crimped material over a box H having a perforated top and a blast-inlet H, a steam-coil I being employed in said box to heat the air that ascends through the conveyer and material to find its way through screened flues c to the air-exhaust drum. In order to further loosen dust and chafi from the crimped material, the screen-conveyer for the same is preferably agitated by a rotary knocker J or suitable nieans. The material is thor oughly dried on theconveyer and the dust and chaff occasioned by the agitation of said conveyer finds its way with the hot-air into the air-exhaust drum, finally discharged from the aforesaid con said material being veyer through a chute of the apparatus in a dry clean condition ready for use, the heating of the crimping-rolls and the drying air being regulated fromtimeto time m-accordance with the amount of moisture prevalent in the material under treatment.

The colored material will be found best suited to the upholstery trade as a for furniture seats and backs, while for y s packing material and mattress or pad filling the sulfur bleached material preferred.

I claim: I 1

1-. A method of treating asses that consists in feeding the materla between heated crimping rolls and subjecting the crimped material to a drying blast. v

2. A method of treatinggrasses that consists in feeding the same between heated crimping-rolls, agitating the crimped mamay be pair of heated terial and subjectmg the said material to a .dryin blast.

3. method of treating asses that cons ists in feeding the same etween heated 'crlmping-rollsand removing-dust and chafi' from the crimped material simultaneous with an exposure of said material to a dry: V

ing blast. 4

4. A method of treating grasses that consists in coating the material with salt, feeding the salt-coated material between heated crimping-rolls, material.

.7 A method of treat-in rasses that consists in coating the materla with salt, feedand drying the crimped" ing the salt-coated material between heated crimping-rolls, and agitating the crimped material in a drying blast. I

6. A method of treating grasses that consists in treating the material with fumes of sulfur, feeding the sulfurized material between heated crimping-rolls, and subjecting the crimped material to a drying blast.

7 A method of treating grasses that consists in salt-coating and sulfur-izing the material, feeding the product between heated crimping-rolls, and subjecting the crimped material to a drying blast.

8. A method of treating grasses that consists in coloring the same, feeding the product between heated crimping-rolls, and subficting the crimped material to a dryingast.

9-. A method of treating grasses that consists in salt-coating, sulfurizing and coloring the material, feeding the product between heated crimping-rolls, and subjecting the crimped material to a drying blast.

sists in salt-coating, deodorizlng and sterilizing the material, feeding theproduct between crimp-ing-rolls, and sub ecting the crimped material'to a drying blast. In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Oshkosh'in the county of Winnebago and State of Wiscousin in the presence of two witnesses.

. WILLIAM F. WYMAN. Witnesses:

CHAS. OELLERIOH,

OLIVE E. ARNOLD.

.10. A method of treating grasses that con- 

